Apart from Natalia, Tanzania has fielded three others in the championships, featuring swimmers from different countries in the world. They are Amylia Chali, Ethan Alimaya, and Michael Joseph.
Dar es Salaam. Tanzanian swimmer Natalia Ladha has set a new personal best time (PB) in the 100 metre backstroke in the ongoing World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar.
Apart from Natalia, Tanzania has fielded three others in the championships, featuring swimmers from different countries in the world. They are Amylia Chali, Ethan Alimaya, and Michael Joseph.
At the thrilling event, Natalia managed to reduce her time from 1:13.58 to 1:13.56 to collect 473 points. The schedule shows that Natalia will compete again next Saturday in the 50-metre freestyle.
Another swimmer, Ethan Alimanya, competed in the 50-metre breaststroke and recorded 34.26 to collect 434 points. Ethan, who featured in the event for the first time, also competed in the 50-metre butterfly to clock 33.97 while garnering 445 points.
Another female swimmer, Amylia Chali, who features at the event for the first time, clocked 1.19.92 in the 100-metre butterfly to collect 334 points and will be in action again next Friday on February 16, 2024 in the 50-metre butterfly.
Meanwhile, Tanzanian swimmer Michael Joseph competes on February 14 in the 100 metre freestyle at the World Aquatics Championships. Michael will also compete in the men’s 50-metre freestyle on Thursday February 15, 2024.
In another development, US swimmer Nic Fink claimed gold in the men's 100m breaststroke as British star Adam Peaty had to settle for bronze on his world championships return in Doha on Monday, February 12, 2024
Fink, a silver and bronze medallist at the past two editions, won in 58.57 seconds, with Italy's 2022 world champion Nicolo Martinenghi taking silver, 0.27sec adrift.
Double Olympic champion and world record holder Peaty rounded out the podium, clocking 59.10sec. The 29-year-old is appearing at the world championships for the first time since 2019. He took time out of the sport last year to concentrate on his mental health.
In Peaty's absence, China's Qin Haiyang swept the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke events in Fukuoka, Japan last year, emerging as a serious threat to Peaty at the Paris Olympics.
The 24-year-old Qin did not travel to Qatar for these world championships. Peaty described his bronze medal performance as "bittersweet".
"The swimming speed is fine, over the next five months, I know that is only going to improve and that is my thing, but the skills are just not good enough at this moment," he commented.
